Many people go to City Hall on Dale Avenue to pay their taxes, register to vote or license their dog.
But a 30-year-old man from Portland, Maine, told police he was just exercising his First Amendment right to be in the iconic building after raising alarm among City Hall employees and the mayor Monday afternoon.
He was arrested on charges with disorderly conduct and drinking in a public way or place.
Officer James Nicolosi was dispatched to City Hall 1:35 p.m. for a report of suspicious activity. City Hall employees said the man was wandering around for no legitimate reason and that they were concerned as he appeared confused. They said he was telling them he could hear people yelling from the top floor but no one was up there. Police found the man sitting in a chair in a second-floor hallway.
He explained to police “that he was exercising his First Amendment right inside a public building,” the report said, describing the man’s demeanor as “up and down.” The man said he could not be arrested and he would sue the Police Department for a violation of his civil rights. The man reportedly refused to say if he had business in City Hall.
The man eventually calmed down and Nicolosi advised him he could stay if he did not cause a disruption. He was told he would have to leave when City Hall closed at 4 p.m.
An employee said the man walked throughout the building without the intention of doing any business. Another employee said the man was confrontational when they attempted to interact with him. Police advised employees that since the man had calmed down, they should call police if his behavior got worse and left.
About 10 to 15 minutes later, police were sent back to City Hall. Police were met out front by Mayor Greg Verga, who reported the man was in the Kyrouz Auditorium upstairs standing on the stage and causing a disturbance. Verga said his employees were nervous about this and had shut their office doors. Police found the man pacing back and forth on the stage in the auditorium, talking to himself.
Police asked him to step off the stage and as he did so an officer saw an open bottle of alcohol sticking out of his rubber fishing boots, the report said. The officer reached down and grabbed the bottle and saw it was a half-empty bottle of Southern Comfort whiskey. Police had noticed earlier the man’s eyes appeared red and glassy and he had a slight odor of alcohol on his breath.
Police arrested the man based on his behavior causing a risk “that created a public inconvenience and alarm for city employees and citizens” and signs of his drinking in public, the report said. The man was taken to the Rockport Police Department for booking without incident. A video showing him walking around, swearing and ranting about politics was attached to the case file.
— Ethan Forman
In news taken from the logs of Cape Ann’s police and fire departments:
GLOUCESTER
Sunday, May 12
8:57 p.m.: Police responded to a disabled vehicle on Route 128 northbound.
6:13 p.m.: A disturbance was reported at Ed’s Mini Mart on Washington Street.
5:14 p.m.: A property check on Sargent Street resulted in police filing a charge of trespassing against a 30-year-old Gloucester man and a 52-year-old Gloucester man, both of no known address. Police arrived to see smoke coming from the woods just off the railroad tracks off of Grove Street, walked down the tracks and came across a homeless encampment. They advised both men they were trespassing and to gather their belongings and leave the area. The Fire Department responded to put out the camp fire.
3:25 p.m.: A past hit-and-run was reported on Mansfield Street. Both parties left the scene before police made contact.
3:03 p.m.: A 16-year-old juvenile was arrested on Essex Avenue on a charge of assault on a family/household member.
2:49 p.m.: The owner of white van parked in St. Peter’s lot on Commercial and Rogers streets was cited after a parking complaint.
2:27 p.m.: Peace was restored after a disturbance involving two males possibly fighting on Eastern Avenue.
11:50 a.m.: Police stopped a moped on Eastern Avenue and Abbott Road and planned to file a criminal complaint against the 44-year-old Gloucester rider on a charge of driving with a suspended license. Police pulled over the woman driving the moped knowing she had a revoked license status, the report said. The woman told police she knew her license status was revoked, but that she thought she did not need one to drive a moped. Police told her she was not allowed to drive any type of moped or vehicle with a revoke license.
9:32 a.m.: Police planned to file a complaint against a 43-year-old Gloucester woman on a charge of shoplifting, a second offense. The store manager told police the woman had removed packaging from multiple items including a back brace, that she then put on and placed her vest over. The woman told police she intended to pay for the brace. The woman also told them she was carrying her sneakers and the flip flops she was wearing were from the store. The woman took sunglasses from her vest that had the packaging removed from them. Policefound she had three face masks, rubber gloves and anti-bacterial wipes in her pants pocket. Police escorted the woman out of the store and explained she was no longer welcome inside and that she would be receiving a summons in the mail for shoplifting.
8:08 a.m.: Police responded to a disabled vehicle on Western Avenue.
1:01 a.m.: Peace was restored after a report of a disturbance on East Main Street.
ESSEX
Wednesday, May 15
Individuals were assisted on John Wise Avenue at 4:17 and 9:27 p.m
4:09 p.m.: The erratic operation of a motor vehicle on John Wise Avenue was reported.
Complaints about animals at the intersection of John Wise Avenue and Choate Street at 8:39 a.m. and John Wise Avenue at 1:40 p.m. were lodged.
7:36 a.m.: A utility issue at a Centennial Grove Road address was reported.
MANCHESTER
Wednesday, May 15
Traffic stops were conducted at the intersection of Pine Street and Parsons Lane at 5:15 p.m. and at the intersection of Pine Street and Walker Road at 5:29 p.m. Both drivers were issued written warnings.
4:08 p.m.: A person was assisted at a Central Street address.
Lost and found property generated reports from Central Street at 6 a.m., Beach Street at 2:16 and 3:23 p.m., and Summer Street at 2:31 and 3:13 p.m.
Community policing was conducted on Lincoln Street at 8:14 a.m. and 3:02 p.m.
'; var element = document.getElementById("sub_message"); element.appendChild(subMessage); console.log("Code Loaded!"); } else { var subMessage = document.createElement('div'); subMessage.id = 'sub-message-top'; subMessage.class = 'panel panel-default'; subMessage.style.backgroundColor = '#eee'; subMessage.style.borderRadius = '5px'; subMessage.style.padding = '10px'; subMessage.style.marginTop = '25px'; subMessage.style.marginBottom = '25px'; subMessage.innerHTML = '
Support local journalism.
Subscribe Today'; var element = document.getElementById("sub_message"); element.appendChild(subMessage); console.log("Code Loaded!"); }}
